Headingley secures 2023 Ashes Test, Ageas Bowl misses out

Headingley has been awarded the lucrative double of an India and an Ashes Test during the ECB's major match allocation for 2020-2024. Yorkshire's ground will also be one of the host venues for the new eight-team T20 competition, along with Hampshire's Ageas Bowl - which missed out on an Ashes Test - Lord's, The Oval, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Cardiff.

Lord's is also a notable victor from the process, retaining the right to host two Tests a year despite a reduction in the overall programme. Like Headingley, Old Trafford was awarded Tests featuring India and Australia.

Trent Bridge, a stronghold for England, is an absentee from the list of the venues for the 2023 Ashes, but the ground will become the home of the 50-over competition final from 2020, instead of Lord's. Edgbaston will continue to host T20 Finals Day, while both grounds were handed four Tests in the five-year cycle.

The ECB announcement sees Test cricket in England return exclusively to its six traditional venues, after more than a decade in which grounds around the country were encouraged to bid for matches, often to the detriment of their finances.

Tests Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord's (two matches), Old Trafford, Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord's, Riverside, Trent Bridge
T20s Ageas Bowl (two matches), Headingley (two matches), Old Trafford, Cardiff

Tests Headingley, The Oval, Lord's (two matches), Old Trafford, Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord's, Riverside, Cardiff
T20s Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Headingley, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge

Tests Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Lord's (two matches), Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord's, Old Trafford, Riverside
T20s Ageas Bowl (two matches), Headingley, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge

Tests Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Lord's (two matches), Old Trafford
ODIs Ageas Bowl, Bristol, Lord's, Riverside, Cardiff, Trent Bridge
T20s Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge

Tests Edgbaston, The Oval, Lord's (two matches), Old Trafford, Trent Bridge
ODIs Bristol, Headingley, Lord's, Riverside, Cardiff
T20s Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Old Trafford, Cardiff

Eight host venues for new T20 Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston, Headingley, The Oval, Lord's, Old Trafford, Cardiff, Trent Bridge

T20 Blast finals day 2020-24 Edgbaston

One-day final 2020-24 Trent Bridge

The omission of Southampton for an Ashes Test is something of a surprise. One of the packages of matches offered by the ECB - featuring only one Test in the cycle - looked to be designed with the ground in mind. Durham, meanwhile, failed in their attempt to argue they should provide one of the homes for the new T20 sides.

Cardiff was understood not to have bid for Tests but remains a regular venue for ODIs and T20 internationals. The Riverside and Bristol have been awarded an ODI in each summer from 2020 but Taunton, which hosted an England men's T20 in 2017, is not on the list.

Work began over the winter at Headingley to rebuild the old Rugby Stand. The threat of a withdrawal of funding for the project last year had led to concerns about the future of the ground as an international venue.

The identity of the eight grounds given host status for the new T20 competition was largely as expected, although there remains the possibility that grounds such as the Riverside and Taunton could be offered individual games.

"Today's discussion and decision followed a rigorous, comprehensive and detailed process by the independent Host Venue Panel, in which they assessed a range of high quality submissions and presentations," Ian Lovett, deputy chairman of the ECB and chair of the panel, said.

"With a five-year period of international and domestic cricket in prospect, as well as our New Competition being developed, there was very strong interest in hosting these events and the overall standard of submissions was excellent.

"From the start of the process we had clear objectives, set a strong methodology and made best use of all relevant data and insight. To help to assess the submissions a balanced scorecard was used, with key aspects up-weighted to meet the needs of each specific set of matches.

"It's right that there should be thorough, independent scrutiny of such a significant process and I would like to thank John Crowther, Karen Earl and Mick Hogan for their contributions, knowledge and expertise. The ECB board recognised the quality and integrity of the process and has endorsed the recommendations, with the next stage the detailed discussion and agreement with each of these selected venues."